Category: Latest News

Medical is the science and practice of diagnosing, curing, or alleviating human illness and injury. It is a combination of art (the application of skill and knowledge) and science (the study of the principles and laws that underlie natural phenomena). Historically, medicine was also an area of philosophy and religion, with many practices having roots in ancient cultures’ beliefs about the causes of disease. Modern medicine is based on scientific research, and has a wide range of subfields. Some examples are: Physiology (the study of body function), pathology (the study of disease), and pharmacology (the study of drug action and side-effects). Molecular biology, genetics, and evolutionary studies have become increasingly significant to medicine, as they have transformed other areas of science. In a medical encounter, the doctor is expected to properly inform and educate the patient about the nature of the problem, its prognosis, treatment options, and risks. The doctor must communicate this information clearly and concisely, using plain language. Doctors must be careful not to use metaphors, euphemisms, or other rhetorical flourishes that may confuse the patient or convey bias or partisanship. The doctor must perform a thorough history and physical examination of the patient, to gather the appropriate data for diagnosis. Depending on the patient’s situation, this may involve taking a detailed family history or psychosocial history, or it may include psychological testing, a neurological examination, or laboratory tests. The doctor must then formulate a diagnosis and treatment plan. If a patient is incapacitated and has not made an advance directive, the state law determines who can make health care decisions for them. This is typically a spouse or parents if available, children if adult, and in some cases close friends. The medical lexicon has numerous specialized terms and acronyms, often with overlapping meanings. Often, these are simply shorthand for longer phrases to speed communication in the physician-patient relationship; other times, they may refer to specific parts of the anatomy or a particular medical procedure. Many of these are copyrighted, and should be used sparingly to avoid confusion and misunderstandings. In general, medical articles should be written for a non-specialist readership and should avoid using jargon and technical terms unless they are absolutely necessary. In addition, article titles should be meaningful and brief, and infoboxes should be used sparingly. The articles should also comply with Wikipedia’s style guidelines, especially those regarding citations and avoiding plagiarism. In addition, all links must meet Wikipedia’s external links policies.

Read More

Health is a multifaceted concept involving all aspects of people’s lives, not only their physical condition but also the mental, emotional and social well-being. The World Health Organisation defines it as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” In other words, health is a dynamic resource that enables individuals to realize their aspirations and satisfy needs in a changing environment. This definition of health, along with the theory of salutogenesis, promotes the idea that health is created rather than cured and emphasises the importance of a supportive environment for healthy living. A number of different ideas have been used to describe health, from a purely physiological view centered on the body to a broader social perspective that focuses on the person’s relationship with their environment. The concept of a healthy lifestyle has become increasingly popular, as have the concepts of wellness and well-being. These theories attempt to incorporate all of these dimensions into a single framework. While this is an important development, it is important to remember that not everyone will be in a completely healthy state at all times. It is difficult, if not impossible, for most people to have complete mental, emotional and social well-being all the time. Therefore, this approach can lead to overmedicalisation of society by pathologising suboptimal health states. Moreover, many diseases and conditions can affect our health in ways that are not always immediately apparent or easy to diagnose. For example, a diabetic can be in a fairly good state of health and yet still be at risk for developing heart disease or even a stroke. Similarly, someone who moves from sea level to a mountain region may suffer from shortness of breath and anemia until their red blood cell count adjusts to the new altitude. In addition, the concept of health has been significantly influenced by the rise of the field of biomedicine, which has moved away from viewing disease as simply an absence of illness to a more holistic approach that combines physiological and psychosocial elements. This has led to the development of the biopsychosocial model, which is a more holistic and inclusive approach to understanding health. Another significant change in the perception of health was initiated by Canguilhem, who conceived it as a “natural state”. He suggested that the term health be defined not in terms of an ideal, but in terms of a person’s ability to adapt to his or her environment. This reflects the modern concept of health as an ecosystem. However, in the past century, healthcare has largely failed to naturally utilize free market principles. Government policies and third parties have skewed, cancelled or outlawed the patient-physician healing relationship, so that individuals are not allowed to choose their own health care ecosystem. This prevents the optimum health outcome that would occur when patients pick and pay for their care themselves.

Read More

Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing, and monitoring medications to ensure they are safe, effective, and affordable. It combines health sciences with pharmaceutical and natural sciences, as well as other fields such as law, ethics, finance, and business. Pharmacists are the primary healthcare professionals who optimize drug therapy and provide medication consultations to patients. They also play a critical role in the education of students and other healthcare providers in the use of medications. A pharmacy is a licensed retail establishment that sells medication. It may or may not also provide other services, such as health advice and counseling. A pharmacy is regulated by local, state, and federal laws to protect the public from counterfeit and illegal drugs. It is also responsible for the sterile preparation of drugs for distribution to patients and the dispensing of prescriptions. The pharmacy profession has evolved significantly since the introduction of new drug substances and standardized formulations in the 1940s. During this time, pharmacists became more focused on educating their patients and improving patient outcomes. Today, pharmacists are involved in more clinical services than ever before. Pharmacy services are offered at a variety of locations, from small private pharmacies to large chain stores, including supermarkets. These services are provided to both the general population and patients in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. Many pharmacies offer home delivery services. Pharmacists are trained to prepare a wide range of medications, from common over-the-counter drugs to more complex compounds. They are also capable of creating personalized medications for individuals with specific needs, such as those with allergies or difficulty swallowing. Compounding is a type of specialized pharmacy service that involves mixing ingredients to create new forms of medicines. For instance, a compounding pharmacist might combine a liquid medicine with a flavored syrup to make a medicated lollipop for a patient with difficulty swallowing tablets. A degree in pharmacy can open the door to a number of different careers. While the majority of graduates end up as healthcare professionals, it is also possible to find work in the retail and finance industries. This is because a degree in pharmacy is mainly made up of maths and science subjects, which can be transferred into a number of other career paths.

Read More

Cancer is a collection of abnormal cells that grow, divide and spread throughout the body. There are more than 100 types of cancer, each with its own characteristics. Some are very rare and others are more common. No two cancers are alike, even two cancers in the same person. This is why different treatments work better for some people than others. Cells are the building blocks of the body, and they grow and replace themselves as needed. But when a group of cells grows out of control, it forms a mass called a tumor. Cancer can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood or lymph systems. This is called metastasis. Scientists haven’t completely understood what causes cancer. But they do know that some things can make it more likely to happen, such as smoking and sun exposure. And they know that some cancers can run in families. These are called risk factors. But the most important thing to remember is that not everyone who gets cancer has a family history of it. And that there are many ways to lower your risk, including staying at a healthy weight, not smoking, eating lots of fruits and vegetables, limiting alcohol, and protecting yourself from the sun. All cancers start in cells. But the genes inside them are what really makes them go wrong. Cancers can be caused by a single genetic mutation or by many gene changes at the same time. These changes can turn off the genes that keep cells from growing out of control or switch them on so they grow and multiply too much. When a normal cell develops these genetic changes, it breaks free of the usual restraints on cell growth and starts growing out of control. As it continues to grow, it produces more cancer cells that grow and divide too much. These new cells may stay within the tissue where they started (called in situ cancer), or they can break away from the tumor and travel through the blood and lymph to other parts of the body, forming new tumors there. The good news is that there are many treatments to help fight cancer, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem-cell transplantation. And scientists are working all the time to find more. The goal is to kill the cancer cells and prevent them from spreading. If you have cancer, talk to your doctor about the treatment options that are right for you. And remember that there are ways to lower your risk, including maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, limiting alcohol, protecting yourself from the sun, and getting regular screenings.

Read More

Medicine is a broad field, and doctors work in many different specialties. Qualifications, aptitude and preference will all influence which area a doctor chooses to specialise in. For centuries, medical practice was largely an art (an area of skill and creativity) with connections to the religious and philosophical beliefs of local cultures. A medicine man might apply herbs and say prayers for healing; an ancient physician might use bloodletting according to the theory of the “four humours”. Scientific biomedical research gradually began to replace this early Western tradition, starting with Edward Jenner’s development of the smallpox vaccine around 1761, and continuing through Robert Koch’s discovery of antibiotics in 1880. The practice of modern medicine is conducted within health care systems which provide financing, credentialing and regulatory frameworks for professional medical work. These vary across the world, but most developed countries have nationalized health insurance schemes that cover a majority of their citizens. In some cases, such as in the case of the United States, private insurance can be purchased to supplement these public schemes. In general, the study and research of medicine is divided into two broad categories: internal medicine and surgery. Internal medicine includes sub-specialties such as gastroenterology, endocrinology, pulmonology and gynecology. Surgical training, on the other hand, is a long process that begins with residency after medical school and may continue for several years with post-residency fellowships. Other branches of medical science include pharmacology, which studies the action of drugs on the body’s systemic functions; and clinical research, where researchers study the effect of treatments on human patients using double-blind, randomised trials. The ethics of medicine are based on the principles of beneficence (caring for people’s physical, emotional and mental well-being) and non-maleficence (first, do no harm). The practical application of medicine involves the diagnosis and treatment of disease and injury. This can involve surgery, but also a range of other allied health professions such as occupational therapy and physiotherapy, which help patients recover from illness or disability. It is common for tertiary care medical centres to have diagnostic laboratories and imaging services such as MRI and CT scanners. This allows the doctors to make a quick and accurate diagnosis of a patient, which will then inform their medical treatment. Other equipment used in the field of medicine includes x-ray machines and ultrasound scanners. Such devices are regulated by the FDA as medical products.

Read More

Health is the state of an individual’s physical, mental and social well-being. It is a concept that has been defined in many ways, from a medical perspective as “the absence of disease or infirmity” to a more holistic view of health as a resource for an individual to function in society and to fulfill their potential. There are three broad categories of health: Physical, Psychological and Nutritional. Physical health involves a person’s body functions and processes, and is largely determined by one’s level of fitness. It requires regular exercise and a balanced diet to keep the body functioning at its optimal level. A person’s psychological health is an important factor in their overall wellness, as it refers to their emotional stability and ability to cope with stressors. Their nutritional health is the level of nutrient intake necessary to maintain their bodies’ immune systems and proper bodily functioning. A person’s overall health is also impacted by their environment, which may contribute to the development of disease or illness. These factors are often referred to as the social determinants of health (SDOH). They include all aspects of an individual’s living and working environments that affect his or her quality of life. These include (but are not limited to) housing, water and air quality, economics and access to resources, education, community safety, crime and policing, and work and leisure activities. It is a common misconception that the healthcare landscape is a monolithic entity that can be defined by one single model. However, in reality it is a complex ecosystem of interconnected moving parts, each influenced by the others. There are several different healthcare landscapes, each of which is suited to specific health needs and each of which will change with time. These diverse ecosystems are comprised of physician offices, hospitals, labs, imaging centers, physiotherapy centers, pharmaceutical companies, drug stores, group purchasing organizations, pharmacy benefit managers and health insurances.

Read More

Pharmacy is the field of science and practice that uses drugs to prevent, diagnose, treat, and cure diseases. Its scope includes traditional roles such as compounding and dispensing medicines, as well as modern services related to health care including clinical services and reviewing medications for safety and efficacy. Pharmacy professionals are experts on drug therapy and play a critical role in ensuring that patients receive the best possible outcomes from their medication regimens. The profession of pharmacy is a complex and challenging endeavor that requires excellent interpersonal skills, an analytical mindset, and the ability to work closely with other healthcare professionals. The demands of the field continue to evolve, but pharmacists remain essential to patient safety and optimal medicine use. As the demand for their skills continues to grow, many pharmacists are considering pursuing advanced degrees in order to expand their careers and increase job satisfaction. Whether you are interested in working as a pharmacy practitioner or you want to be part of the team that supports pharmacists in their efforts, this article will help you identify the best programs for a career in pharmacy. The top programs are listed in the table below, ranked based on their student-to-faculty ratio, the credentials and experience of faculty members, the quality of research projects supported by the school, and the strength of their clinical placements. The Eshelman School of Pharmacy at UNC is located on the Health Sciences Campus and has a strong reputation internationally for its excellent graduate education, research, and innovation. Its faculty and students are engaged in cutting-edge research and developing innovative ways of improving human health. The school’s curriculum is designed to teach students how to be effective leaders and team players while promoting patient-centric, compassionate care. The program also focuses on teaching students how to apply their knowledge of the fundamentals of drug discovery and development in the real world. This renowned program provides its students with the skills, knowledge and experiences that are required for a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry. Its rigorous course of study allows students to gain hands-on experience in a variety of settings. In addition, this program offers a 3-year program, which is a significant advantage for students who are looking to start their career as quickly as possible. There has been an increasing number of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines available on the market today. The increased number of medications has created a need for pharmacists who can help prescribers and patients navigate the selection and administration of drugs. The aging population has also increased the need for pharmacists who can assist in the management of chronic illnesses and provide long-term care. This makes a career in pharmacy an exciting opportunity for individuals who are interested in making a difference in the lives of others. The opportunities for advancement in this field are limitless. Moreover, the salary and benefits for pharmacy professionals are competitive. UCSF’s pharmacy programs offer a unique educational experience that prepares graduates for an exciting and rewarding career in the pharmaceutical industry.

Read More

Cancer is a group of diseases that develop when cells grow and divide uncontrollably. The disease can damage tissues and organs in the body and prevent them from working properly. Cancer cells also spread to other parts of the body, where they can continue to grow and cause symptoms. Doctors use a variety of treatments to treat cancer and help patients feel better. These include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and biological therapies. Until recently, scientists knew very little about how cancer happens. They knew that cells that have mutated in some way can become cancerous and that these mutations can be caused by a number of things, including exposure to sunlight, chemicals, certain viruses, and some drugs. However, they could not explain how one mutation led to another or how certain characteristics-called risk factors-can increase a person’s chance of developing cancer. The earliest known reference to cancer dates back 2,300 years to Hippocrates, who described the long, distended veins that appear in some breast tumors and resemble the limbs of a crab. However, until the 1600s and 1800s, when Hooke and Virchow discovered that living tissue consists of cells, doctors could not explain how tumors form or how they are caused. Scientists now know that mutations in genes can cause cancer. These mutations usually affect three types of genes-proto-oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and DNA repair genes. When these genes are mutated, they allow cells to grow and divide when they shouldn’t or fail to stop growing and dividing when they should. The resulting abnormal cells can become tumors, which can then break apart and spread to other tissues and organs. In some cases, the cancer cells cannot be stopped and may kill the patient. Other times, the cells are able to stop growing and can be removed with surgery. But in many cases, the cancer will return and recur. This is why it’s important for everyone to learn the warning signs of cancer. They can help people seek treatment early, when the cancer is smaller and less likely to spread. Although the number of new cases of cancer is slowly decreasing, the disease still kills many people every year. It is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Experts are working hard to understand how to prevent and treat cancer. The most common treatment for cancer is surgery, which removes the tumor or the part of the body where it grew. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used to kill cancer cells or keep them from spreading. They are often given together in a combination, but they can also be given separately. Some types of cancer need hormone treatment, which blocks the body’s natural hormones or uses drugs that mimic them. Some kinds of cancer are treated with targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and lasers. Each type of cancer treatment has its own benefits and side effects. Your doctor will recommend the best treatment for your case.

Read More

Medical is the art and science of preventing, diagnosing, treating, and curing disease and injury; as well as promoting physical and mental health. A wide range of subfields are included under the umbrella term medicine, including pharmacology (the study of drugs and their effects), physiology (the study of the body’s normal functions), pathology (the study of disease), medical imaging, and radiology. Many of these fields require specialized training that may include a residency in internal medicine. The first step in the medical decision-making process is obtaining a patient’s medical history. This history will typically include details about the patient’s symptoms, family history, previous illnesses, and treatments (such as surgeries or medications). The next steps are conducting a physical exam and performing lab or imaging tests to help diagnose the issue. These findings are then reviewed by the patient’s doctor and discussed with the patient. Finally, the doctor recommends a treatment plan. This information is documented in the patient’s medical record, which is a legal document in many jurisdictions. It is also used for reporting and billing purposes. Depending on the complexity of the case, a patient might need to undergo further tests and consultations before receiving a diagnosis and treatment. A patient’s medical record can be accessed by healthcare providers, researchers, insurance companies, employers, and other third parties. In addition, some medical records may be part of a clinical trial that is sponsored by pharmaceutical or device manufacturers. Patients are generally advised to read privacy policies before granting access to their medical records. The medical field is full of specialized terms that are unfamiliar to most non-healthcare professionals. The good news is that there are some tried-and-true methods for memorizing medical terminology so you can understand the context in which these words are used. One method is to focus on learning the common root words, prefixes, and suffixes that are found in most medical terminology. These word parts are found in all the specialized terminology as well, so it is important to familiarize yourself with them. Some of the more common root words are intuitive simply based on your experiences: cardio/vascular (relating to the heart and blood vessels), emphysema (a condition that causes difficulty breathing), and hematology (the study of blood). Other useful vocabulary words for students of medical terminology include adi/o/nal (relating to the abdomen), en/cephal/o/logy/ic (pertaining to the brain), and melan/o/logy/ic (relating to the skin). These are just some examples of the ways in which you can build a basic foundation of medical terminology. You’ll also want to review the rules for how prefixes and suffixes form together. The rules for building medical terms are similar to those for other languages. The important thing is to be literal at the beginning while you’re building your vocabulary, and then learn to interpret these forms as you gain proficiency.

Read More

Health is the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of any kind, irrespective of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition. The right to health is a matter of public policy, as recognized by numerous nation states, and it is the responsibility of all nations to promote and protect it. The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health in 1948 as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” This is an important concept to consider because it suggests that good health involves more than simply being free of illness. It encompasses an individual’s ability to adapt and function in the face of change, uncertainty or adversity. People’s health depends on many factors — genetics, their environment, and their behaviours. These factors may be risk or protective and interact with each other. They are often called ‘health determinants’. Examples of these are income, employment, education and housing. In addition, lifestyles such as smoking and diet also have an impact on health. The physical environment can affect health, for example, the quality of air and water and the presence of germs. Various definitions of health have been proposed throughout the years, but none has been universally accepted. Some define health as the absence of disease; others define it as a state of physical, psychological and social well-being, while still others believe that health is a combination of all of these. The way people perceive and define health has a profound effect on how they live their lives, how they treat themselves and how they are cared for. These perspectives are influenced by culture, values, beliefs, family and community. It is important to understand these influences in order to develop interventions that promote health and prevent diseases. There is an increasing recognition that the healthcare landscape is complex and needs to be redesigned in order to provide high-quality, accessible services that meet the health needs of the people. Many different organisations are involved in the delivery of healthcare, including physician offices, hospitals, laboratories, radiology centers, physical therapy and pharmaceutical companies. The complexities of the healthcare landscape can lead to confusion and frustration for patients. A patient’s individual health profile over the course of a lifetime must be considered when developing interventions. This can be achieved by developing a model of healthcare that integrates an individual’s changing needs and priorities with their current health status. There is a direct relationship between a person’s health and the environment in which they grow, work, play, live, and age. This includes the natural environment, the built environment and a person’s personal circumstances such as their financial situation, work conditions, social connections, quality of life and personal behaviours. The Commission on Social Determinants of Health (2008) describes how these are interconnected and call for a holistic approach to health.

Read More